Ring binder



Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE RING BINDER Edwin M.Phillips, East Orange, NJ. Application December 17, 1945, Serial No.635,504

. following description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certainembodiments of the invention are disclosed and,in

which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views .and in which:

. Fig. 1 is a plan View of thebacking and ring member of a binderdetached, with parts of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 withthe backing and ring member in assembled relationship to each other.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the structure V shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 showing another adaptation ofmy invention;' and Claims. (01. 129'-1) gated'aperture I? adjacent thefold it, the apertures i5 and i? being of the same length and in commonalinement. The ring-forming strip ll,

from which ring members are formed, has at one end laterally extendingretainer flanges IS. The other end portion has a U-shaped cut2U,'forming a lock element 2|, having a contracted end portion 22 whichis adapted to enter the aperture i l. Said end portion of the member IIhas a fold 23 and the first named end of the member has inwardly of theflanges a fold 2d, forming the bends or corner portions as designated bythe fold reference characters in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

In assembling theparts ill and H, the flanges l2 and it are extendedupwardly in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2 on the folds i5 and i3.

1 Then the end 25 of the ring member I i is passed sheets to be attachedto the binder.

fmountings are well known in the art, no showing Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Figs.'2 and 3 showing the adaptation of Fig. 5.

The present invention constitutes a continua-- tion-in-part of thestructure disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 635,503 filedDec. 17, 19- 15, now Patent No. 2,495,180 dated Jan. 17, 1950, in

' which prior application, a one-piece structure of the binder isdisclosed.

. one form of construction employing a backing or mountingstrip I!) anda ring-forming strip H. The backing strip has on opposed side edgeslongitudinally spaced flange members. 62 and i3 and the number of theseflanges employed will depend 1;

upon the number of rings to be used in construct ing the binder device.The flange 12 has a small central aperture 14 adjacent the fold l5thereof and an elongated aperture is adjacent the outer edge of theflange. The flange i3 has an elonoutwardly through the aperture ii. Thestrip is passed over the'top of the backing is and said end 25 is thenpassed inwardly through the aperturelt sufficiently to allow thecontracted end 22 of the lock element'ili to snap downwardly into theaperture !4. Before this operation takes place, it will be understoodthat the members ii are passed through the apertures in perforated Athese is thought to be necessary.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, 1 have shown a slight modification,wherein the backing strip it is provided with flange portions 52, it,both 5 of which have elongated apertures 26 and 2? adjacent the folds 28and 29. At 30 is shown a strip forming a ring member. This strip haslaterally extending flanges (ii, at one end thereof, similar to theflanges l9. Adjacent these flanges, the strip has a fold line 32. Theother end portion 33 of the strip has a U-shaped cut 34, which forms atongue or retaining member 35, the latter having an upwardly curvedretainer or stop portion 36 whichis formed in the member and is adaptedto yieldably pass through the aperture 26 in moving the ring into closedposition, as shown in Fig. 4 and, at the same time, this constructionwill provide a forcible withdrawal or the end portion 33 to provide whatmight be termed a'loose-leaf constructionfacilitating attachment anddetachment of perforated leaves as and when required without the need ofinserting an instrument for disengagement of a lock menaber, as would bethe case with the disengagement of the lock member 2i and flexurethereof in position to pass outwardly through the aperture i6.

Aside from the difference in structure, heretofore defined, thestructure in Figs. 3 and i will be opthe flange erated in the samemanner, as that shown in Figs.

1 and 2. In Figs. and 6 of the drawing, I have shown a furtheradaptation of my invention in which a backing or mounting strip ill" isemployed and has, at side edges, flanges :2 i3",

i2" having an elongated aperture 31 adjacent the fold 38: The flange iiihas an elongated aperture longer than the aperture 37 and arrangedadjacent the fold ll At l! is shown a strip for forming the ring membersof the binder. This strip has, at one end, the laterally extendingflanges 32, similar to the flanges l9 and 3 l. Adjacent the flanges 42is a fold line 43.

The other end portion 44 of the strip 4! is of less width than the mainbody portion of the strip to pass through the smaller aperture 31. Thisend portion, inwardly of the end, has two L-shaped cuts i5 and atopening through side edges of the strip and forming two yieldable lockor retainer members ll, which extend outwardly beyond the side edges ofthe end portion 5d and are adapted to yieldably pass through theaperture 3? to retain the end portion M. against displacement andretaining the resulting ring member li upon the upper surface of thebacking or mounting if)", as clearly seen in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The strip fill has a fold line 48, adjacent the cuts at and t6, and inlike manner, the strip has a fold line as adjacent the end of the member35. These folds, as well as the fold 2-3, in

conjunction with the folds 2 32 and as, produce the semi-circular ringconstruction of the menrbers l i, 38 and ll, as is clearly illustratedin Figs.

2, 4 and 6 of the drawing.

By constructing the binder unit as in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 of separateparts, the construction cost of each part is materially simplified inminimizing waste and, further, facilitates packing and shipment of theparts in a package of relatively small size, it being understood thateach part may be packed separately or units of the two parts may becombined with the parts ii, for example, disposed upon the upper surfaceof the parts iii.

Each part 55, it, it will have as many proiecti'ng apertureo flanges atthe sides thereof as will be required to produce the number of rings oneach binder unit. In all instances, a part only of each part ill, at,is" is shown in order to simplify the present illustration.

By constructing the parts separately in the manner above referred to,this construction also lends itself to the formation of the binder ofdiiierent materials. For example, the backing or mounting part may becomposed of fibre and, the part forming the ring member's, formed ofplastic material. On the other hand, it will, of course, be apparentthat common materials can be employed and, by separate formation,different thicknesses can be employed in the associated parts in thesame material. The present construction also lends itself to usingmaterials of different colors, so as to produce attractive effects, asand when several colors would be desirable.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A ring binder of the class described comprising a mounting parthaving oppositely arranged dg flanges at side edge portions thereof,-iorming part detachable with respect to tr e first part, saidring-forming part having means at one end engaging one of the flanges inretaining said end against movement outwardly through said flange, theother end portion of the ring part being adapted to be passed through anaperture in the other opposed flange in forming, in con junction withthe mounting part, a closed ring construction, means on the last namedend portion of said ring part engaging the second named flange to retainthe ring part against accidental opening, said last named meanscomprising a yieldable lock element movable toward and from one surfaceof said ring part, and said lock element engaging an aperture in thesecond named. flange in providing further coupling engagement of thering part with the first named part.

2. A ring hinder or" the class described comprising-a mounting parthaving oppositely arranged coupling flanges at side edge portionsthereof, a ring-forming part detachable with respect to the first part,said ring-forming part having means at one end engaging one of theflanges in retaining said end against movement outwardly through saidflange, the other end portion of the ring part being adapted to bepassed through an aperture in the other opposed flange in forming, inconjunction with the mounting part, a closed ring construction, means onthe last named end portion of said ring part engaging the second namedflange to retain the ring part against accidental opening, and said lastnamed means comprising yieldable loch elements at side edge portions ofthe ring part and yieldable laterally.

A ring binder of the class described comrising a mounting part havingoppositely arranged coupling flanges at side edge portions thereof, aring-forming part detachable with respect to the flrst part, saidring-forming part having means at one end engaging one of the flanges inretaining said end against movement outwardly through said flange, theother end portion of the ring part being adapted to be passed through anaperture in the other opposed flange in forming, in conjunction with themounting part, a closed ring construction, means on the last named endportion of said ring part engaging the second named flange to retain thering part against accidental opening, and said last named meanscomprising a laterally yieldable lock clementon said ring part.

l. A ring binder comprising an elongated mounting part and a pluralityof ring forming strips, said mounting part comprising a flat memberhaving raised transversely alined apertured side flanges, the stripshaving at one end means engaging flanges at one side of said mountingpart in retaining the strips against displacement therefrom in onedirection, the other end portions of the strips being adapted to passthrough opposed apertured flanges at the other side of said mountingpart in forming, in conjunction with the mounting part, closed ringmembers on one surface of said part, said last named end portionsincluding local elements formed from and movable relatively to said endportions for retainingthe ring members against displacement from themounting part, the end portions of said strips being acapted to bear onthe upper surface of the flat member of said mounting.

5. A ring binder comprising an elongated mounting part and a pluralityof ring forming strips, said mounting part comprising a flat memherhaving raised transversely alined apertured side flanges, the stripshaving at one end means engaging flanges at one side of said mountingpart in retaining the strips against displacement therefrom in onedirection, the other end portions of the strips being adapted to passthrough opposed apertured flanges at the other side of said mountingpart in forming, in conjunction with the mounting part, closed ringmembers on one surface of said part, said last named end portionsincluding local elements formed from and movable relatively to said endportions for retaining the ring members against displacement from the Imounting part, the end portions of said strips being adapted to bear onthe upper surface of the flat member of said mounting, and said lockelements being disposed within side edge portions of the strips.

6. A ring binder comprising an elongated mounting part and a pluralityof ring forming strips, said mounting part comprising a flat memberhaving raised transversely alined apertured Side flanges, the stripshaving at one end means engaging flanges at one side of said mountingpart in retaining the strips against displacement therefrom in onedirection, the other end portions of the strips being adapted to passthrough opposed apertured flanges at the other side of said mountingpart in forming, in conjunction with the mounting part, closed ringmembers on one surface of said part, said last named end portionsincluding local elements formed from and movable relatively to said endportions for retaining the ring members against displacement from themounting part, the end portions of said strips being adapted to bear onthe upper Surface of the flat member of said mounting, and said lockelements being arranged at side edge portions of the strips.

7. A ring binder formed from sheet material, said binder comprising anelongated flat mounting part, side edges of said mounting part havinglongitudinally spaced transversely alined pairs of upwardly extendingapertured flanges, the apertures of one of said flanges registering withthe upper surface of said mounting part, ring forming strips, endportions of said strips being adapted to pass through the apertures ofsaid pairs of flanges, means at end portions of said strips engagingsaid flanges in forming, in conjunction with said mounting part closedrings thereon, one end portion of the strips having means forming apositive engagement with one flange in each pair, the other end portionof the strips having yieldable elements formed from the material thereofand movable relatively thereto, and said yieldable elements engaging theother flange in each pair in retaining the strips in closed ringformation on the mounting part.

8. In'binders of the class described, an elongated flat binder parthaving a pair of apertured flanges arranged at side edge portions ofsaid part and projecting in the direction of the upper surface of saidpart, a ring adapted for mounting on the binder part, said ringcomprising an elongated strip, one end portion of the strip beingarranged on the upper surface of said part and having flanges engagingthe apertured flange at one side of the binder part to retain said endagainst displacement from the flange in one direction, the other endportion of the strip being adapted to pass through the aperture of thetil flange at the other side of the binder part and extending onto theupper surface thereof, and a yieldable lock element cut from thematerial of the last named end portion of said strip and adapted to moverelatively thereto to engage the second named apertured flange inretaining the strip in closed ring arrangement on said binder part.

9. In binders of the class described, an elongated flat binder parthaving a pair of apertured flanges arranged at side edge portions ofsaid part and projecting in the direction of the upper surface of saidpart, a ring adapted for mounting on the binder part, said ringcomprising an elongated strip, one end portion of the strip beingarranged on the upper surface of said part and having flanges engagingthe apertured flange at one side of the binder part to retain said endagainst displacement from the flange in one direction, the other endportion of the strip being adapted to pass through the aperture of theflange at the other side of the binder part and extending onto the uppersurface thereof, a yieldable lock element cut from the material of thelast named end portion of said strip and adapted to move relativelythereto to engage the second named apertured flange in retaining thestrip in closed ring arrangement on said binder part, and said elementbeing disposed Within side edge portions of the strip.

10. In binders of the class described, an elongated flat binder parthaving a pair of apertured flanges arranged at side edge portions ofsaid part and projecting in the direction of the upper surface of saidpart, a ring adapted for mounting on the binder part, said ringcomprising an elongated strip, one end portion of the strip beingarranged on the upper surface of said part and having flanges engagingthe apertured flange at one side of the binder part to retain said endagainst displacement from the flange in one direction, the other endportion of the strip being adapted to pass through the aperture of theflange at the other side of the binder part and extending onto the uppersurface thereof, a yieldable lock element cut from the material of thelast named end portion of said strip and adapted to move relativelythereto to engage the second named apertured flange in retaining thestrip in closed ring arrangement on said binder part, and said elementbeing disposed at a side edge and being yieldable laterally.

EDWIN M. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date

